Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee Meeting | July 22, 2026

The Buncombe County Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee met on July 22, 2026, to discuss ongoing and future initiatives related to community care services for seniors and people with disabilities. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation by Eugenio Perez, executive director of Better Together Transportation, a nonprofit providing free, wheelchair-accessible, non-medical transportation within Buncombe County. The presentation highlighted the program's impact, funding needs, and plans to expand services, including adding a second van and volunteer companion programs. Committee members also reviewed funding allocations, utilization of supplemental aging funds, and discussed the upcoming grant application cycle for fiscal year 2027. The committee agreed to maintain the current grant application and scoring process with minor adjustments and planned to review annual reports in the next meeting. The meeting emphasized the importance of transportation services in supporting social connection and access to community resources for the aging population.